Oh My God, So Good Burgers-Burgatory, Pittsburgh

My sister insisted that we arrive by lunch, so that they could take us to The Burgatory.  She said the restaurant would be too busy to accommodate our party of nine for dinner, so it was lunch or nothing.   She had talked about this amazing place with our kids two weeks before and they were very excited about it!  The Burgatory is, as it's name implies, a burger restaurant touting burger names and items with heaven and hell themes.   The restaurant is modern with booth, table and high top seating and a full bar at the back.

The menu has both House Speciality and make your own burgers, but also ribs, chicken and a nice children's menu. The appetizer menu had an item I wish we had had time to order called the 6-napkin nachos.  This dish looked amazing.  I was drooling over one at a table near where we were waiting to be seated.  

There are ten signature sandwiches (burgers) ranging from the Pot Luck burger to the Meat your Maker.   The Meat Your Maker, has a description ending in, "you will think you died and went to heaven".   Love that!! I didn't have to look far to know what my son would order.  They have a crab cake burger, called the Crab Shack, with spicy remaloude and cole slaw.   Wow!!! That is one good sandwich!  I would have been sad I hadn't ordered it myself, except that the sandwich I ordered was amazing, oh my god good!

My sister, my husband, and I, all ordered the create your own burgers.  They have order forms on the table where you can pick from complimentary and additionally priced items from staples such as lettuce and onions to special sauces, rubs and choices of breads.

I chose the special blended hormone free burger (the restaurant's special blend of sirloin, chuck, brisket and short rib, oh my!) on a brioche bun with avocado, mayo, haystack onions, romaine lettuce, tomato and farm house cheddar!  The meat was to tender and the topping were fresh and plentiful.  It was so big I almost needed a fork and knife to eat it!  I think this may have been the best burger I have ever had!!!

You have a choice of chips or upgrade to fries, baked beans jalapeño corn bread or cole slaw.  The chips are actually thin cut fries and are extremely good.  I got the corn bread.  Unlike other jalapeño corn bread I have had, where there are large chunks of jalapeño leading to some bites with a lot of kick and some with none, they blend the jalapeños in, giving each moist bite a even kick.   Yummy!!

The kids have a choice of mini burgers, chicken, grilled ham and cheese or hot dogs.  They all come with the chips and the offer of a free root beer float if they finish their meal.  How great is that!!!

The bar carried both local and domestic microbrews and foreign and domestic bottles.  Lots of choices, but one of the best things is that they have shakes!!!! You can order from quite a variety of flavors, like Choco's Taco, Carmel Pretzel, or Campfire S'mores.  You can also upgrade and make it an adult drink!!! Awesome!!!

At the end of the meal, much to our surprise, they gave us fortune cookies. Each had a Burgatory original fortune.   Mine was quite appropriate for me and the occasion, I must say.  The Burgatory is fun for all!   I was so happy with my meal at Burgatory!   Happy Eating!

Travel to South East Asia while in NYC, The Spice Market

My girlfriend and I took a trip to NYC a few years back, and went to a fantastic place called the Spice Market.  I was so enthralled, that I made sure that I took my husband on our recent trip to the city. The Spice Market is found in the cobblestone streets of the old Meat packing district, on the corner of 13th and 9th.

The birthchild of Phil Suarez, Chef Jean-George Vongerichten and designer, Jacque Garcia, the Spice Market was the first step in the renaissance of the District.   The lofty ceilings and rustic beams from the old building work beautifully with South East-Asian decor brought in from Malasia, Indonesia, India, and Bura.

Chef Jean-George Vongerichten creates a menu that is inspired by a multitude of spices and cuisines from the South East, and is executed beautifully by Chef de Cuisine, Anthony Ricco.

Once you are seated, they present you with Papad (Indian fried tortillas) and a spicy dipping sauce.  They have an extensive drink menu highlighting the asian inspired cocktails on the first page.

I ordered the Lychee Raspberry Bellini, Prosecco with lychees and raspberries, and of course my husband ordered an Asian beer, Asahi's Black.  The bellini was sweet and smooth and delicious. My husband now says that Asahi Black is his new favorite beer.

We ordered two appetizers, the Lobster spring rolls and the Grilled Chicken Satay.  The spring rolls were fresh and light and served with a siracha sauce allowing for a delightful kick. The Chicken Satay was amazing, tender chicken in a light peanut sauce, with just a bit of heat.   My husband and I fought over the last one.  I could have eaten another serving.  To satify this craving, I dipped the cucumbers in the peanut sauce.  So good!

For dinner we ordered, the Steamed Red Snapper, the Onion and Chili Crusted Short Ribs with Egg Noodles and Pea Shoots and the Ginger Fried Rice.  The server informed us that each item will be presented as it is ready, not all at once, in a more family style way.

The Steamed Red Snapper came out first with a side of white rice.  The fish was fantastic!  It was tender and moist and cooked perfectly!!  My husband said, "I am not a fish person but this is really good".  That is huge coming from him! We didn't even eat the rice!  The fish stood alone!

The Ginger Fried Rice came out next and what a treat that was! Instead of mixing the egg into the rice leaving a gummy texture to it, they fry the egg on top allowing it to be mixed in later, leaving the rice with the proper consistency.   The fried egg added a bit of crunch to the dish. It was the best fried rice I have ever had!


Lastly, we received The Short Ribs.  This was a pleasent surprise.  We did not realize that it is actually a soup!  The short ribs are bathed in a wonderful broth that is a combination of soy, ginger and spices.  It is rich and allows the meat to be so tender it falls apart.  The noodles are perfect and are imbued with the flavor of the broth.  It is a beautiful dish!  My husband said it is reminisent of a dish his Filipino mother makes.

My husband finished off his meal with a Vietnamese coffee which he thoughly enjoyed!

The Spice Market is an wonderful experience for the senses.  We were very happy with our visit and you will be too.  Happy eating!

You can't leave NYC without eating Pizza!- John's Pizzeria

New York City pizza is, hands down, the best pizza on the planet.  Chicago natives will try to argue this, but I will stand firm.  MUST GET PIZZA, is my mantra when we travel there.  One of the best places to get pizza in NYC is John's Pizzeria.  Located on the edge of the theater district, on 44th and 8th, John's Pizzeria opened in 1997, in an old church and sports lofty ceilings and stained glass.
















We were seated on the second floor, giving us an amazing view of the mural on the back wall done by Douglas Cooper.  It is breathtaking.  We also had a view of all 4 of the coal-fired brick ovens used to serve the in house and take out masses. 

We started with John's Garlic Rolls.  You know it has to be good if it has the restaruant name in it!  And boy was it awesome!! Soft dough wrapped around garlic, mozzarella and olive oil!  They give you marinara to dip too!  My husband was so happy they left the remaining marinara for him to dip his pizza in.
We got a ceaser salad next, that was gigantic! Glad we where sharing it!  The dressing was perfect, not to garlicky or fishy.  


Now to for the Pièce de résistance, the pizza!  This pizza is absolutely fantastic!!!  Gooey cheese and thick pieces of meat on a crust so thin that the pizza bends when you lift it of the tray.  It is like magic in your mouth.  We happily had left overs that provided the best breakfast on the plane home.  I wish I had taken a whole pie with us so I could have some now!  

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My husband and I were very happy with our meal at John's Pizzeria and I know you will too! 

Happy Eating!

Fantastic Food and Hundreds of Beer- Box Bar, Plymouth MI.

We lived in Plymouth, just after we got married, and loved the downtown atmosphere.  One of the places we frequented was the Box Bar.  We love this place. So when my girlfriend and I were looking for a place to stop and eat on our way back from Detroit, we both suggested the Box Bar! (She too loves this place!)

The Box Bar seems to have always been in Plymouth.  It was a small bar next to Kellogg park for years and then expanded in the 90s allowing for more dining space and room for parties and functions.  The main dining room has high ceilings and two large projection screens for the sport of the day.  There are shelves aroung the room that hold beer steins from around the world and the original sign is hanging over the host stand.

The back wall is lined with every bottled beer you can think of.  The selection is enormous. They have a multitude of draft beers as well.  Of course they have local beers on draft too!!





One of the coolest things about the Box Bar is how they serve the beverages.  Each soda or non-alcoholic beverage is served in a mini pitcher!  Huge hit with kids and those of us who love big sodas!

The menu is very large and bound like a book.  It sports items from burgers and nachos to bangers and mash and stews.    There is so much variety it is hard to choose; Mexican fare, burgers, barbeque, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees and more.

We started with the nachos of course!  The nachos here are awesome!!!!  VERY cheesy  and meaty and topped with guacamole and sour cream.  Yummy!

I decided to order from the special menu, I couldn't resist the idea Guiness Beef Stew.  Beef, carrots, celery in a Guiness based beef gravy over a baked potato, topped with fried onions! Really who wouldn't want that!!! It was gigantic!!!  Every bite was a rich and full of flavor.  I ate a little too much, yet still had left overs for the next day!



My girlfriend ordered the meatball sandwich. This isn't your ordinary meatball sandwich. Instead of a roll the meatballs are baked into a bread bowl and topped with mozzerella.  Wow!!! and Wow again!  My girlfriend loved it!!!    

The kids menu is great and not only offers chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese but pasta and even PB&J.  Just be aware that like the adult menu the portions are huge. Each dish comes with a side of appleasauce.

The kids really liked their meals which made the meal better for the us!   We were so happy that we chose to eat at the Box Bar!!  This is a great place to take your family, meet friends for beers or watch a game.  Everyone will be happy with a visit to the Box Bar! 

Korean Noodles to die for! Tomukun Noodle Bar, Ann Arbor

I was meeting my Sister-in-law for lunch and we had planned on steak but it was really cold so I suggested we go to the noodle place on Liberty for something warm.  Great decision!!!  Tomukun Korean Noodle Bar is amazing!!!  It is a very beautiful and quaint place to meet someone for lunch or dinner.   The service is excellent, and menu offers a wide variety of noodles from ramen, to udon, Pho and stir fry.

We ordered an appetizer of course!  Love love calamari, so of course I ordered the Salt and Pepper calamari.  The squid is lightly fried  and served with onions, garlic and salt and pepper and a few jalapenos to spice it up.  It was delicious!!!  Tender calamari that was fried to perfection with out a greasy after taste.  

I ordered noodles of course!  The best dish is always the house specialty so I ordered the House Pho.  Rice noodles, beef, tripe, beef meatballs, oxtail, garlic, cilantro, and onions in a beef broth.  They serve the chili oil on the side allowing the customer to add to their taste.  I appreciated this, as I am sometimes a bit wimpy with heat.
This dish was so good!  The blend of the different meats and seasonings was delicious!    I even liked the tripe!!!!  Who would have thought that possible!  It was an absolutely huge bowl, so I was delighted to have left overs for the following day!


My sister-in-law ordered the Chow Fun Noodles with chicken.  The noodles are stir fried with vegetables in a ginger soy sauce.  Yummy!!!  How they keep the noodles al dente while stir frying, is a mystery but well enjoyed!  The sauce was great and had a bit of a kick to it!  I will definitely be getting this dish in the future.

I wish we had more people with us, so I could have sampled more of the fantastic offerings.  I guess I will have to bring my family back here soon because I was a very happy girl at Tomukun Noodle Bar.  Or perhaps we could sample more of what they have to offer at the Tomukun Korean BBQ next door.  Either way any visitor to Tomuku will go home happy.

Fantastic New York Style Deli and Diner in Mid Michigan-State Side Deli

You walk into the Okemos location of State Side Deli and you feel like you are in a New York Diner. We were greeted by the owner, a very sweet woman, who told us to sit wherever we would like.  My daughters loved that we got to pick own seats.  The menu is fantastic!  You can order breakfast all day!  I would have, if I hadn't had breakfast for dinner the night before.  The rest of the menu is a combo of diner and deli food; Corn beef sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers.  There wasn't an item on the list I didn't want to eat.  I knew exactly what to get my son, the BLT, his all time favorite sandwich.  They have a kids menu so one of my daughters was set with the kids chicken tender meal.  My other daughter surprised me by ordering the chili in a bread bowl!  I love her sense of adventure.

We got fried pickles to start!  I was so excited to see that they had them.  Very few places do.  They were so good!  They were crispy and seasoned well.  I really dislike mushy fried food so these made me very happy!  They come with a ranch dipping sauce because who doesn't love to dip!

My picky one got her chicken strips and I prayed she liked them.  She said, "Mommy these are real chicken, you have to try them"!  She actually ate two of them!
That is huge! Guess she liked them.

The bowl of chili was a success too!  I was worried at first, because it looked nothing like my chili and you know how kids are, but she said "Mommy that looks so good"!  She was right!! And it tasted good too!!

I went for the big prize, and a local favorite,
The Price Is Right.  Really that is the name!  What a sandwich it is!  Corned beef and pastrami with swiss and coleslaw on grilled rye!  Totally New York and perfect!  I actually ate the whole thing!  Don't judge me, please!  It was so good!!! Moist corn beef and spicy pastrami with creamy coleslaw on warm toasted rye, awesome good.

Just as we were finishing up, my girls discovered that they had smoothies.  Well that is a semi healthy dessert so why not.  This was really the icing on the cake (or lack there of) for my girls!  They loved this place!

After my son had his BLT, he agreed.  Extra thick bacon in abundance!  He had half for dinner and was super excited to have the other half for lunch today.  We were all happy at State Side Deli and will be headed back soon for breakfast!

Farm Fresh, Fantastic Food- Fork in the Road, Lansing

I have been hearing about this little place in Lansing that serves fresh, locally grown products in a creative and fun way.  Fork in the Road, is appropriately named because it is located at the fork of West Saginaw and Oakland.  This little "diner" is quaint and fun!  There are full size 6-8 person booths in the center with tables surrounding them.  You order at the counter and then seat yourself.  I love this idea! It saves on wait time and keeps the flow.  This is great, because this place is popular!  

They have a small menu but it is amazing!!!  You can order breakfast or lunch at anytime.  My girlfriends and I went there for birthday brunch last weekend and it was a fantastic!!!  We all ordered something different.   This was awesome, because I was able to try some of the other dishes!  I was very hungry so I ordered the Cherry French Toast, and a side of scrambled eggs and breakfast potatoes with hot tea, of course.

I got my hot tea first, and they sent it with a tiny hourglass to measure the seeping time.  How cute is that??!!   Now on to the French toast.  I am not usually a fan of French toast, I prefer pancakes, but I was intrigued by the cherries, pastry cream and coconut, and oh, the hickory syrup!
 
How beautiful is that!!! I was so happy with my choice!  It was like dessert.  The tartness of the cherries and the sweetness of the pastry cream were like heaven!  Seriously!  An additional bonus was that the french toast was not soggy (the reason I am usually not a fan).   Now remember, I also got the eggs and potatoes.  These were not your ordinary potatoes.  They season them in a way that is amazing and a bit spicy.
My girlfriend ordered the Veggie Scramble.  I plate piled with fresh vegetables (onions, zucchini, tomato, eggplant, green beans and squash) with eggs and feta cheese.  And to make it even better you get a piece of bread with a pesto spread on the side.  She kept saying  "This is the best meal I think I have ever had".  I have to say I was so jealous of her meal!!  I mean, look at that plate!  
Most of the ladies ordered water but one of my girlfriends ordered the Hummingbird Nectar Iced Tea.  It was really good! 





She also ordered the Breakfast Burrito.  This is a meal and a half!  Tortilla stuffed with eggs, chorizo, fried tofu, kimchi, quinoa, eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomato, and feta. It is topped with creama. This is the definition of a brunch item.  

 

The remaining member of our group ordered the Blueberry Whole Wheat Pancakes.  They also came with that amazing hickory syrup!  My girlfriend's only complaint was that they didn't give her enough of the syrup.  

As you can see we really enjoyed our brunch!  We were all happy girls at The Fork in the Road.  We are already thinking of a time to go back!

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